News brief: Big stories of the day

China expressed hope that all countries willuphold peace and tranquillityin the outer space after India's ASAT(anti-satellite missile) test.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry moved on Wednesday to cool a row with Afghanistan over reported comments by Prime Minister Imran Khan that were taken to suggest that Kabul should set up an interim government to help smooth peace talks with the Taliban.

EU Council presidentDonald Tusk has saidthe organization should be "open to a long extension if the UK wishes to rethink its Brexit strategy".

India has said it has no intention ofentering into an arms racein outer space and Anti-Satellite Missile(ASAT) test was done just to "verify" that the country has the "capability to safeguard our space assets."

China has expelledformer Interpol chief Meng Hongweifrom the Communist Party and dismissed him from his official positions, the country's graft watchdog announced Wednesday.